*Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins does.*

Years have passed since Gale and I took off. Eventually we decided against going all the way back to twelve. What if someone came in the woods and recognized us? We decided that we wanted to live away from civilization. We kept going, traveling and hunting. We were best friends and gradually we became lovers. I love Gale. I really do. I don't regret the decision to take off with him. Sure, we both miss our families sometimes, but we have each other. We understand and know each other from the inside out.

One day, we were walking through some woods, we came upon a cabin. It is about the size of one of the houses back home. There is absolutely nothing around it but woods. It's perfect. We decided to make our home there. One night, with a little bit of grain we managed to get at the outskirts of a district we had passed by a few days ago, we made some bread and did the toasting. We were in love and wanted to be married, so we did. There was no planning or fancy dresses like there would have been in the Capitol. It was spontaneous, simple, and perfect. Eventually, Gale convinced me to try for kids. After all, he had said if he didn't live in a world with the threat of the Hunger Games, he might want some.

One day, I got pregnant. It was terrifying at first, but Gale helped me through it, always reminding me that there was no threat of our baby ever being in the Hunger Games or dealing with the Capitol. When our little boy was born, he looked just like Gale. He still does. Gale says he looks like me, but since we both look so similar, it's a lost argument. Since he turned five, we have been teaching him how to hunt. He is a natural. As Gale says, he has to be with our combined genetics. Even though I still have nightmares about the games and the war sometimes, Gale is always there to comfort me. His strong arms protect me from all my fears. Life is absolutely perfect. No oppressive government. Hunting and being outside as much as I please. Living in the woods. My family. Love. Gale. It's perfect and I never want it to change. I don't know about the rest of the world, but for Gale, myself, and our son at least, the words of the song are now true:

Deep in the meadow, under the willow

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes

And when again they open, he sun will rise.

Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you.

The End